The faded letter, hidden in a book donated to an Oxfam store, is a heart-warming insight into what presents kids wanted at the time.

Marjorie, the well-off daughter of a cotton trader, marked out lines with her pencil and wrote in near-perfect joined-up handwriting, addressing it simply to ‘Father Christmas, North Pole’.

She writes: “Dear Father Christmas. When you come to see us on Christmas Eve will you please bring us some little toy ducks and chickens for a present, also a canvas stocking like you bought us last year.

“You will see an extra stocking hanging up this time, it is for Kittikins she would like a piece of ribbon and a ball in hers. With love and kisses from us both. Your loving Marjorie.”

PRAM KNIFE RAID

'BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS'

Whirligig’s founder, Peter Allinson, said there wasn’t a single person who had seen the letter who wasn’t moved by its simplicity.

According to Findmypast, which carried out the research into Marjorie, the little girl became a solicitor, returned to her native Wigan and became a solicitor, dying in 1988.

Researcher Alex Cox said: “It’s a truly wonderful letter and there are literally millions of stories just like Marjorie’s that have been lost to history and are still waiting to be told.”

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